You Asked For It...

You Asked For It...

Short sleeve Seventh Column T-shirts, that is. See, we do love you. We now have a shorter version of our Seventh Column shirt available in the Bungie Store. This might be a good time to try out your 40% off discount!

New PoA Theme

New PoA Theme

A lot of people have requested a Pillar of Autumn theme, so I thought I'd try my hand at it. There's now a new theme available for chapters called "PoA Light". It's certainly not the best theme on the block, but it's my first, so don't give me too hard a time. Head to Chapter Founders to see it in action.

FanFest Wrapup Reports

FanFest Wrapup Reports

I just got back from E3 and need to take a long breather. However, I didn't want to sign off without first pointing you to this post and this post at HBO about the FanFest, which sum up the evening quite nicely. Thanks Deanero and vector40! Also thanks to Freewill for helping organize things, to mnemesis for chauffeuring us around town, to Deanero for being a gracious host at the Marty Army practice session, and to everyone that showed up for the event, especially the teams that competed in the tournament. We had a blast!

Two New Themes

Two New Themes

A big thanks to Stosh and Jonah Friedman for the two latest themes available here at the 7th Column.Stosh created one called Master Chief, a blue and brushed metal theme using images of the big green guy.The second theme, "tru7h," is based on Jonah's interpretation of the Marathon's Story Page -a tribute to Hamish Sinclair if you will.

New Bungie.net Poll

New Bungie.net Poll

Wow, 195 of you, 83% of the respondents in our poll, said you want a short-sleeved version of the Seventh Column T-shirt available in the Bungie Store. We'll see what we can do. In the meantime there's a new poll up on Bungie.net, this time in response to some in-fighting I've seen between state-wide chapters (that won't be named). Let us know which organizational approach you favor.

New Theme: Hunters

Short-sleeved 7th Column Shirt?

Short-sleeved 7th Column Shirt?

Churchhill18 pointed out that it's too damn hot for a long-sleeved Seventh Column shirt where he lives, so I've posted a new poll to the front Bungie.net page asking how many of you would like to see a short-sleeved version added to the Bungie Store.

Bungie Store 7th Column Discount

Bungie Store 7th Column Discount

If you look over in your chapter's navigation bar when you're visiting the Seventh Column you'll see a new link -- Store Discount. Read on to find how you can get a whopping 40% off at the Bungie Store! As they say, membership has its privileges.

New Feature: Announcements

A number of members of the Chapter Founders group have been clamoring for top stories for their chapters. We've heard their cries and implemented something we think is even cooler--announcements.

If you're not a staff member you'll see a new option when you submit news that asks you to classify your news as a statement or a memoranda. Staff members, however, have two additional options: Declarations and Directives. All three of these new options, including memos, will show up with fancy new icons provided by Candyman. In addition, Declarations and Directives will show up above the news, in a section called Announcements.

New Chapter Approval

New Chapter Approval

I just approved a busload of new chapters, so if you had one waiting in the queue go check out the Seventh Column page. A lot of these submissions seem like they're already-established groups, but remember that if you're thinking of joining a chapter search your area for active ones before founding your own.

Site Problems

Site Problems

We had some problems on the site yesterday that we're still trying to sort out. Fortunately everything seems back to normal and no data was harmed in the process. In addition, the email address we posted to our theme building tutorial was bouncing this weekend. It should be working soon, but in the meantime if you're trying to submit a theme go ahead and send it to 7themes at microsoft.com instead of at bungie.com. Sorry for the trouble.

Wanted: Aspiring Theme Artists

Wanted: Aspiring Theme Artists

Ever since we launched themes for chapters, Seventh Column members have been clamoring for new themes. We've been too busy to oblige as much as we'd like but many of you have expressed interest in helping out. There's no automated tool for themes, so Candyman has done the next best thing and created a handy little tutorial that will guide you through the process.

Once you've created a theme you like you can submit it to Bungie for possible inclusion on the site. Candyman explains more, plus gives you the tools to create your own themes, in the READ ME file contained within his Theme Building Tutorial. Good luck!

Oh yeah, almost forgot. If you're looking for ideas for new themes to create then check out the Chapter Founders group's theme suggestion database.

New Chapter Bonanza

Most Active Listing Removed

Most Active Listing Removed

We have decided to remove the "most active" chapter listing, at least for now, primarily because the listing is not very accurate due to some problems with the activity log system itself. Since there is no quick fix, the listing is gone for now. You can still see which chapters are active by looking at the chapter directory. Active chapters have names that are bigger and bolder in the directory.

Something just for the fans

Something just for the fans

Hey, we've added a new section to the 7th Column web site: Propaganda!If you're thinking of hosting a 7th Column event and need some printed materials, you've come to the right place, muchacho.While you're here, follow the link for the top story and hear what Miguel Chavez, Bungie's #1 fan, has to say.

New Chapter For Founders

New Chapter For Founders

I've created a new chapter, Chapter Founders, meant as a gathering place for those of you who run your own chapters. Right now you have to ask to join, but if people like it we'll automate things so that all founders are members. If you're running your own chapter head on over, join up, and participate!

New LAN Poll

New LAN Poll

There's a new Bungie.net poll up, this time asking if you've been to a Halo LAN party.

According to our previous poll 6 out of every 10 of you belong to a Seventh Column chapter. Those of you that answered "What's the Seventh Column?" should read this. Those that can't find a chapter in their area should try searching by location. If there's not yet a chapter near you then keep an eye on the New Chapters list on the Seventh Column site (I just made it display location). Those of you without an Xbox have our sympathy. And for the rest, those that are afraid of people they meet on the Internet or that simply don't like people, you need to get out more!